Method of assembling a thin sheet between two thick rods



Sept. 26, 1961 H. REHRIG 3,001,275

METHOD 0E ASSEMBLING A THIN SHEET BETWEEN TWO THICK RODS Filed Dec. 31, 1956 INVENTOR HOUSTON REHRI6 BY MM.

ATTORNEYS welding is stopped United States Patent METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A THIN SHEET BETWEEN TWO THICK RODS Houston Rehrig, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Rehrig Pacific Company, Los Angeles, Calif a corporation of California Filed Dec. 31, 1956, Ser. No. 631,721

1 Claim. (Cl. 29-482) This invention relates to the art of securing sheet material in assembled relationship with rod-like members and more particularly to constructions wherein a relatively thin element of sheet material is secured to a gridlike arrangement of relatively heavy rod-like members.

The particular problem with which my invention is concerned arises in situations where it is desired to secure an element of sheet material to a relatively heavy frame member. The problem is most often found in the metal working field, one specific example being the case where a sheet metal guard is to be secured in position upon the wire frame members of a wire-sided crate. In such construction, the wire or rod-like members employed in constructing the crate sides are of relatively heavy material compared to the thickness of the sheet metal from which the guard element is formed. Conventionally, such sheet metal elements are welded directly to the wire side members. Since the sheet metal element is of relatively thin material, this element tends to become heated much more rapidly than the heavier rod member to which the sheet element is being welded. Frequently, heat is applied during the welding operation for a period of time which causes the relatively thin sheet metal to be burned or seriously weakened. This obviously is not productive of a secure joint. Frequently, in an attempt to avoid this situation, the before the sheet metal reaches an undesirable temperature and is often stopped before a sufficient degree of heat has been imparted to the heavier rod-like member to afford a secure weld.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a method for fixing an element of sheet material to heavier members wherein it is unnecessary to apply heat directly to the sheet material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method for securing the sheet material in position upon a framework of rod-like members wherein the sheet material is positively secured in position and the securing bonds are of uniform strength.

Another object of my invention is to provide a secured structure wherein an element of relatively thin sheet ma terial is permanently secured to a framework of rod-like members.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an exemplary construction embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of elements making up another structural embodiment of my invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the elements of FIG. 3 after assembly.

In FIG. 1, I have disclosed my invention applied to a specific practical embodiment wherein a sheet metal corner guard indicated generally by the reference numeral is secured in position on the outer corners of a wire-sided crate specifically adapted to handle cardboard milk containers. This particular crate construction is illustrated in greater detail in my co-pending application Serial No. 556,587, filed December 30, 1955 now Patent Because of the great differences in the relative thickness of the sheet metal from which corner guard 10 is constructed and the wire frame members 12 and 14, the heating characteristics of the guard and wires make it difficult to obtain a satisfactory weld directly between the sheet metal guard and the wire frame members. In order to overcome this difficulty, I have devised the corner guard shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The improved corner guard is constructed from sheet metal of any desired guage and may be conveniently stamped into the form shown in the drawings. A pair of vertically extending grooves 16 are formed as by swaging in the guard 10 at locations where they may receive the respective vertical side members 12. A pair of oval shaped openings 18 are provided near the respective ends of grooves 16 at locations where horizontal tie members 14 will cross vertical members 12 in the assembled crate. -In the assembled structure, corner guard 10 is sandwiched between vertical members 12 and horizontal members 14, the grooves 16 permitting members 12 and 14 to be located in substantial abutment. With the corner guard in the assembled position, members 12 and 14 are then welded directly to each other at 17 within opening 12, thus avoiding the necessity of directly welding guard 10 to either of members 12 or 14. The welding time is regulated in accordance with the heating characteristics of the frame members and is independent of the characteristics of guard 10.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of my invention has been disclosed. In this case, sheet metal element 30 is provided with an enlarged opening 32 at locations wherein the rod-like frame members 34 and 36 intersect. One or both of frame members 34 and 36 may be provided with an offset bend as at 38. Oflset 38 is oriented to locate a portion of member 34 within opening 32 into substantial abutment with member 36 and members 34 and 36 are joined to each other by welding as at 40. This particular embodiment is of a special interest in applications where the sheet material so may be of substantial thickness, where a relatively large number of joints or bonds will be required in the framework, or where the material from which sheet element 30 is constructed is not adapted to be grooved in the manner of the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment.

While the relatively enlarged openings in the foregoing embodiments do not provide a direct abutment between an edge of the opening and the weld, a complete assembly possesses a substantial degree of resistance against relative movement of the sheet metal element upon cooling of the weld, since the slight contraction of the weld upon cooling is usually sufficient to exert a clamping action between the respective udre elements and the sheet metal elements.

While I have described but two embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments are capable of modification. Therefore, the foregoing description should be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of my invention is that defined in the following claim.

What I claim is: l

The method of assembling a relatively thin sheet metal member between two relatively thick rod-like metal members comprising the steps of forming an opening through said sheet metal member, deforming said sheet metal member to form an elongated depression in said sheet metal member interrupted by said opening, said depression being formed to locate one of said rod members against one side of said sheet metal member with the 4ipnrti'ontdf'said'one of'said'rod members extending across opening to clamp said 'rc'd members against the opposite said opening being located to vabut withinsaidtopening sideseoftsaidisheetmetaLmember.

the other of said rod-likeimembers when said other of said members is engaged against the opposite side of said References Cited in the file of this patent sheetxmetahmemher,.locatingseii'dntheriof'ssiidarddzmem- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS bers 0n the opposite side of said sheet metal member :to 1,871,491 Brandt" Aug vl6, 1932 extendacross said opening intransverserelationshipwith 2,019,625 OBrien 5 1935 isaid one of said rod members, and-welding the 'butting 42,319,455 *Hardman May 13, 1943 qaortions of-said rod members to each otherwithin said 2,575,302 Karelius, May 58, A1945 

